Basic Etiquette at Japanese Temples & Shrines
Wondering what to do at a Japanese temple or shrine? This quick video will walk you through the basics!
Band-Maid Goes 'Band-Maiko' for April Fool's
Band-Maid mixes shamisen with thrash guitar for this special April Fool's release—and the result is kinda awesome!
5 Limited-Edition 'Sakura' Sweets for 2018
Spring brings about new beginnings in Japan—and new sweets, as confectioners celebrate the transient cherry blossoms with 'sakura'-flavored selections!
Sample Some Doughnut & Ice Cream Sushi in NYC!
New York City's culinary world goes topsy-turvy with mint-chocolate-chip sushi and fish-flavored doughnuts.
CoMix Wave Films Unveils its Newest Movie
After lovingly dramatic portrayals of Tokyo and Gifu in the hit anime movie, 'Your Name,' this anime studio applies its glisteningly gorgeous talents to another country.
'Manifest 99' Rattles into Japan
The award-winning 'Manifest 99,' an ominous and eerie story set on a train inhabited by a murder of crows, is about finding redemption in the afterlife—and is now available in Japa...
9 Fun Tokyo 'Hanami' Spots
Debating where to go to get the most out of Tokyo's brief cherry blossom season? Check out these nine fun spots for some ideas!
Our 8 Favorite Sakura Sweets from 7-Eleven
If you're planning on doing some cherry blossom viewing this spring, these are the eight 7-Eleven sweets you need to bring along!
Tokyo's Beautiful 'Sakura' Winter Wonderland
As spring snow fell in the nation's capital, the cherry blossoms turned into beautiful snow-capped buds.
This Hot Spring Is in a Dungeon?!
This picturesque hot spring is hidden in a dilapidated old building in Tochigi, offering a unique experience to those brave enough to enter!
'Hanami' Manners Matter
Cherry Blossoms First Time in Japan
Don't want to be shamed on Japanese television for having poor manners while enjoying cherry blossoms? Here are the four rules you need to follow to avoid causing a small scandal.
Say Hello to the Hello Kitty Bullet Train!
This summer, Hello Kitty wants to welcome you onboard her very own high-speed train!
Sumida Textiles: Hand-Dyed in Tokyo
Handicrafts Local Creators' Market
The Sumida Ward has long prospered as the center of Japan's fabric industry. Even today, it is capable of reproducing nearly any color on demand.
Endless Design Possibilities: Fukuyama Denim
Local Creators' Market Hiroshima
Specialists in every step of denim manufacture—spinning, dyeing, weaving, washing—abound in Fukuyama, a leading producer of denim in Japan. The locale is a driving force behind the...
All About the Local Creators' Market
Handicrafts Local Creators' Market
Launched by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Local Creators’ Market focuses on five Japanese locales noted for producing exquisite traditional handicraft...
Taking Denim Beyond the Jean Jacket
Local Creators' Market Hiroshima
Hiroshima is known for its denim. But the denim being made here may not be the kind of denim you know!
How Japanese Pearls Are Processed
Handicrafts Local Creators' Market
How are pearls processed? Prized Akoya pearls are sorted in front of a north-facing window, where the low-angled natural light reveals any scratches and irregularities, and practic...
The Secrets of Pearl Harvesting in Japan
Handicrafts Local Creators' Market
Look closely through the translucent sheen of any Akoya pearl and you’ll see a rainbow of colors—a joint gift from the growers, the oysters, and the sea itself. But how are they pr...
The Ultimate Wedding Cake Knife
Swords have been forged in this Gifu Prefecture town since the late Kamakura Period. Now the same traditions are being applied to some of the best knives you can hope to find.
